From the Desk of CA Prsident Maggie Brown

It's no secret that a healthier workforce reduces employee absenteeism and can lead to lower health care costs for employers. Yet while medical costs can consume up to 50% of corporate profits, research shows that nearly 80% of illness and disease is preventable.
Thus, offering your employees access to health and wellness programs can result in a healthier bottom line for you as well. But how do you convince your employees to make the commitment to a healthier lifestyle by becoming more physically active?
The Columbia Association (CA) can help. CA is pleased to sponsor the fourth annual Get Active Howard County, a free health and fitness initiative, beginning in April and continuing for 10 weeks. The goal is to increase awareness of healthy lifestyle habits among those who work or live in Howard County and to motivate them to participate in 30 minutes of moderate activity at least five days per week.
Why not encourage your employees to form a team to participate in Get Active Howard County? It's a great way to start, and it's free. I invite you and your employees to join me at the kickoff festivities on Saturday, April 5, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Supreme Sports Club. CA fitness specialists will be on hand to help you get started, with lots of free information, trial classes and fitness demonstrations to motivate you.
To participate as a team or an individual, please register online at www.getactivehowardcounty.org, or in person at any of Columbia's village centers or CA fitness facilities. Upon registration, the web site will help you track your team's progress and access the 10-week calendar listing of free events and activities.
One event you won't want to miss is CA's "Family Fun Night" at the Columbia Gym on Sunday, April 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. We'll have specialized group fitness classes, Martial Arts demonstrations, free throw shooting contests, a moon bounce and more. Getting fit together, whether it's with family members or co-workers, can be fun. And CA can show you how.
CA has partnered with the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, the Howard County Health Department and Howard County General Hospital, as well as the Howard County Nutrition & Physical Activity Coalition, Howard County Library, Howard County Recreation & Parks and the villages of Columbia to bring Get Active Howard County to the community.
We hope you and your employees will take advantage of the free activities offered throughout the 10-week period to become more physically active. Together, we can help make Howard County the "fittest" county in the country.

Please feel free to share your comments and suggestions by e-mailing me at Maggie.brown@columbiaassociation.com.